Game apparatus.



- W. B. SWINDELL.

GAME APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED mma. I917.

Elana/whoa Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-MEET I.

W. B. SWINDELL, GAME APPARATUS.

1 APPLICATION FILE'D MAR. 3. I917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 4.

Patented Dem-2'5, 1917.

UNITED STATEg FATFNT @FFTQE.

WALTER B. SWINDELL, OF RALEIGH, NGRTH CAROLINA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed March 3, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVaL'rnR B. SwINnnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of Wake and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus of the box ball type, and one object of the same is to provide a means of amusement simulating bowling and wherein movably suspended self-locking playing members or counters of different numerical values are adapted to be struck by a rolling ball or marble, the largest aggregate or score of the members successfully played deciding the winner of each game. Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus simple in operation and serving as a means of education in accurately training the eye and hand of children and adults alike and at the same time serving as an interesting pastime medium.

WVith these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangements of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 33, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical section of the rear portion of the apparatus taken in the plane of the line M, Fig; 2.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of parts of the apparatus.

The improved apparatus comprises a table or bed 5 of suitable length and width and having a horizontally flat upper surface and forming an alley or run-way for a ball or marble 6. The table or bed 5 has a front upstanding guard or flange 7 and sides 8 which project above the same to provide side guards which for a greater portion of their length are of the same height as the guards 7. The sides 8 are enlarged or widened toward their rear eXtremities, as at 9, and intersect and are, secured to a back 10 of materially greater vertical extent than Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 191?.

Serial No. 152,303.

the front portions of the said sides 8. Over the rear widened extremities 9 of the sides 8 and the back 10 a cover strip 11 is secured in horizontal position, and said cover strip together with the back 10 and the widened rear extremities 9 of the sides 8 forms an inclosure or housing for the working parts of the apparatus. Secured to the front edge of the cover strip 11 and terminally engaging the inner sides of the adjacent portions of the rear extremities 9 is a hanger strip 12 having secured thereto at regular intervals a series of number plates or means 13 carrying iumerals, as clearly shown by Figs. 2 and :l. From the lower edge of the hanger strip 12 to the top surface of the table or i ed 5 below, an open space is formed, and secured to the back 10 within the inclosure and extending from the table 5 vertically over theback a suitable distance is a buffer or shield 1% of a length equal to the cross-extent of the inclosure or housing over the table or bed 5 and serving to receive the impact of the playing pieces or the balls or marbles 6 used in operating the parts which will be hereinafter described.

The ends of the inclosure or housing are provided with reinforcing strips or walls 15; and within the front opening of the housing or inclosure at a suitable distance below the lower edge of the hanger strip-12 is a crossrod 16 which is terminally mounted in the reinforcing walls 15. On this rod 16 a plurality of levers or suspended members 17 is mounted to freely swing, said levers or members being arranged at suitable distances apart and having their lower ends increased in width or enlarged, as at 18, to give them suflicient weight to depend vertically when in normal position and also .to reinforce the said lower ends which terminate a short distance above the upper surface of the table or bed 5, as shown by Figs. 2 and 4. The distances between the levers or members 17 are of such extent that the movable playing pieces or the marbles or balls may pass between the said levers or members without striking the same and enter the inclosure and impact against the buffer 14. The number of the levers or members 17' that may be used will depend upon the dimensions of the apparatus and may be varied at will, five of these levers or members being shown in the drawings and under ordinary playing conditions such number will be preferred. The upper extremity of each lever or member 17 above the rod 16 is formed with a locking head 19 having a lower rearwardly and upwardly inclined angular shoulder 20. Within the inclosure and above the plane of the rod 16 a second rod 21 is terminally mounted in the reinforcing walls 15, and thereon is a plurality of arms 22 which are free to gravitate or move on the rod and project forwardly under the lower edge of the hanger strip 12 and carry cover plates 23 at their front ends, said cover plates having their lower ends coincident with the lower edges of the arms 22, but projecting above the upper edges of said arms a sufiicient distance to extend over and conceal the number plates or number carrying means 13 on the said hanger strip 12. Beneath the arms 22 is a setting strip 24 having fulcrum pins 25 at the opposite ends adjacent to the rear edge, said fulcrum pins engaging and movable in the reinforcing walls 15, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The setting strip or means 2 1 is actuated through the medium of a setting lever 26 movably mounted on the rod 16 adjacent to one end of the latter and having a rearwardly projecting setting extremity 27 which is always positioned under and in engagement with one end of the said setting strip or means 24;. To maintain the levers or members 17 in positive spaced relation, space sleeves 28 are mounted on the rod 16, said space sleeves in shorter lengths being also in engagement with the setting lever 26. At the center of the series of levers two space strips 29 de pend from the hanger strip 12 to give intermediate bearing to the rod 16, and where these strips 29 are located the space sleeves are omitted, the rod 16 extending through the lower portion of the said strips as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In rear of the strips 29 are other intermediate depending strips 30 which form intermediate bearing supports for the rod 21, as shown in section by Fig. 3 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. i, the strips 30 depending from the cover strip 11. The arms 22 are also held in positive spaced relation by space sleeves 31 mounted on the rod 21 between the said arms except at the points where the strips 30 depend. By means of the space sleeves 28 and 31 respectively mounted on the rods 16 and 21 an accuracy of position and registration of the forward ends of the arms 22 and the heads 19 of the levers or members 17 is always insured and the cover plates or guards 23 are thus also uniformly held to cover the number plates or number carrying means 13 when the arms 22 are in normal position. It is proposed to construct the several parts of the apparatus of materials best adapted for the purpose so as to render the device as awhole strong and durable and capable of resisting considerable wear and tear without liability of breakage.

\Vhen the apparatus is prepared for playing a game therewith all of the arms 22 will be raised and rest on the heads 19 of the levers or member 17, as shown in full lines by Fig. 4. The player then impels or pushes the ball or marble 6 over the table or bed 5 toward the pendant levers or members 17 with such force as to cause any one of the levers or members that may be struck to swing rearwardly and clear the head 19 of the lever struck from under the lower edge of the adjacent arm 22, and if the lever 17 thus operated is thrown far enough the outer freely gravitating end of the adjacent arm 22 will drop and the lower portion of the cover plate 23 will engage the should-er 20 and at the same time uncover or disclose the numeral plate or numeral carrying means with which the said cover plate cooperates. The shoulder 20 is at such angle that when the arm 22 corresponding thereto falls, the outer surface of the lower portion of the cover plate or guard 23 will squarely engage the said shoulder and look the lever or member 17 thrown upwardly against accidental release, said lever or member 17 remaining in its abnormal position until it is reset. When the arm 22 falls or drops it rests on the setting strip 24 and this same operation and position of parts ensue throughout the whole series of levers or members 17, or during the time that one player is privileged to use the number of shots allotted to him in accordance with a predetermined agreement as to the playing of the game. After one player has used all of his shots the apparatus may be reset by depressing the lever 26 and elevating the setting strip 24:, which will release all of the arms 22 that may be in looking engagement with the raised levers or members 17, and then another player takes his turn and utilizes the same number of shots as the preceding player, and the winner of the game is determined by the aggregate of the numbers exposed. If desired the game may be played in other ways, as for instance by allowing the levers or members 17 to remain elevated when struck by the ball or marble of one player and thereby render the operation of the remaining pendant levers or members 17 more difficult and. also make it advantageous for any one player to disclose and have counted to his credit the larger number of the group of numbers that may be carried by the plates or number carrying means 13. The mode of playing the game, however, is not particu larly essential as the same may be varied in accordance with the desires of the players. It will be understood that a number of the balls or marbles 6 will be provided as a part of the equipment of the game apparatus to accommodate one, two, three or more players or only one ball or marble may be used and transferred from one player to another.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a board provided with a horizontal table, a plurality of regularly spaced movably depending members disposed at one extremity of the board, a plurality of number devices above and corresponding to the members, a plurality of arms mounted to have a gravitating movement and normally resting on the upper ends of the members, the arms having upwardly projecting cover devices to conceal the number devices, means for throwing the members over and permitting the front extremities of the arms to drop, the cover devices operating to lock the members when they drop and at the same time disclose the several numbers normally concealed thereby, and means for resetting the members and arms in normal position.

:2. In a game apparatus, a table having a rear inclosure open at the front, a rod ex tending across the open front of the inclosure, a plurality of depending members n1ovable on the rod and partially closing the front opening of the inclosure, the said members having heads with locking shoulders, a plurality of horizontally disposed gravitating arms having cover plates projecting upwardly from their front ends to drop against the shoulders and lock the members in overturned positions, a plurality of number carrying devices arranged above and corre sponding to the members and normally concealed by the cover plates of the arms, the said arms normally bearing upon the heads of the members, and a playing piece for striking and overthrowing the members and effecting a locking action of the said arms and cover plates relatively to the heads of the members.

3. In a game apparatus, a table having a rear inclosure open at the front, a plurality of depending members movably mounted in and partially closing the front opening of the inclosure, the said members having heads with locking shoulders, a plurality of horizontally disposed gravitating arms having cover plates projecting upwardly from their front ends and operative to drop against the shoulders and lock the members in abnormal positions, a plurality of number carrying devices arranged above and corresponding to the members and normally concealed by the upwardly projecting cover plates of the arms, the said arms normally bearing upon the heads of the members, a playing piece for striking and overthrowing the members and effecting a locking action of the arms and cover plates relatively to the heads of the said members, and a movable setting strip upon which the arms fall, the setting strip being operable to restore all the parts to normal position.

l. In a game apparatus, a table having a rear inclosure open at the front, a plurality of members depending through and partially closing the front opening of the inclosure and provided with shoulders at their upper ends, a plurality of horizontally disposed arms pivoted at their rear ends and having their front ends free to gravitate, the front ends of the arms normally bearing on the upper ends of the said members and provided with cover plates which project above the upper edges of said arms and operate to engage the shoulders at the upper ends of the members to lock the latter in abnormal position, means above and in line with the members for carrying numerals to indicate the playing value of the members, the cover plates normally concealing the said numerals, means for operating the members, and means for resetting the several parts of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER B. SWINDELL. lVitnesses E. H. LEE, WV. C. l/VA'rsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

